General

Hong Kong is one of the great centres for international cooking. Apart from several Chinese cuisines, there are also many Indian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Singaporean/Malaysian and Thai restaurants. It is the home of authentic Chinese food from all the regions of China, which may be sampled on a sampan in Causeway Bay, on a floating restaurant at Aberdeen, in a Kowloon restaurant, in a street market or at a deluxe hotel. Hotels serve European and Chinese food but there are also restaurants serving every type of local cuisine.

At small, local restaurants specialising in Cantonese food, don't expect an English menu or knives and forks. The best advice is to follow the crowds. Choose a restaurant that's full, and don't be shy about pointing to an interesting dish at your neighbour's table. This is often the best way to order, since even when there is an English menu, local specialities may not be on it.

The pointing method of ordering will come in handy when you visit the plethora of small, brightly lit dives, many open into the wee hours, that specialise either in noodle soups or roast meats. At noodle-centric restaurants, fish-ball soup with noodles is an excellent choice, and the goose, suckling pig, honeyed pork, and soy-sauce chicken are good bets at the roast-meat shops. A combination plate, with a sampling of meats and some greens on a bed of white rice, is a foolproof way to go.

Remember that many fine-dining restaurants are located in five-star hotels and shopping malls. Several of these restaurants, such as Dynasty and Caprice, offer seasonal menus or special chef's selections along with their standard à la carte options, and these are often the best bets.

Places to Dine

In Kowloon, restaurants are concentrated in hotels, in shopping malls, and along Nathan Road and its side streets, such as Knutsford Terrace with its many alfresco eateries. Central District caters to area office workers with a wide range of restaurants in IFC Mall and Pacific Place and to night revellers in the Lan Kwai Fong nightlife district and SoHo (South of Hollywood Road), with many more restaurants sprinkled in between. Wan Chai, home to both a convention centre and the city's liveliest nightlife, offers a wide range of restaurants catering to diverse crowds, while the nearby Causeway Bay's dining scene centres in and around Times Square Shopping Centre. The most striking views are from restaurants atop Victoria Peak, while Stanley, with its market and laid-back beach-front restaurants, seems like a different part of the world altogether.

Lan Kwai Fong

LKF, or the Fong, is an expensive but popular place to titillate the taste buds, this is where trendy restaurants and chic bars unite in a bustling bonanza under a common theme: indulgence.

From Chinese, Thai, Indian, Mediterranean, German, American to even a dressed-up version of British cuisine, from the outrageously expensive to the moderately inexpensive, populated by glamorous starlets and grungy students, Lan Kwai Fong has it all.

Tsim Sha Tsui

At over 100 years old, Inagiku has maintained its reputation as a destination for Japanese specialities.

One Peking Road in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui is home to a number of remarkable restaurants and nightclubs, all with incredible views from the 30-floor tower shaped like a sail. The penthouse Aqua inspires with Italian and Japanese dishes served to the accompaniment of a harbour view. Chao Inn and Hutong specialise in Chiuchow and Beijing style Northern Chinese cuisines.

Central District

Several moderately priced restaurants in Central District include: Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill, located in Pacific Place and offering American classics; Peking Garden, serving food from Beijing; Super Star Seafood Restaurant, known for its Cantonese seafood and dim sum; and Tsui Hang Village Restaurant, serving Cantonese fare.

Fat Angelo's is renowned for its massive portions of American-style Italian food; Genki Sushi offers conveyor-belt sushi at low prices; Koh-I-Noor is recommended for Indian curries; and Spaghetti House is a popular family restaurant.

Finally, another good place for a casual, inexpensive meal is the Food Fare food court in Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, in Central, where various counters offer Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Japanese food, as well as sandwiches and pasta.

Causeway Bay & Wan Chai

Fook Lam Moon, famous for its exotic Cantonese fare also has a branch in Wan Chai. Jade Garden is good for Cantonese food and dim sum. Super Star Seafood Restaurant, serves Cantonese dishes, seafood and dim sum, and Wu Kong specialises in cuisine from Shanghai.

California Pizza Kitchen, Fat Angelo's, Genki Sushi, and Spaghetti House, all have branches in Wan Chai and/or Causeway Bay. The Flying Pan, PizzaExpress and Pret A Manger also have branches here.

Kumatei has a solid reputation for excellent Japanese cuisine. Victoria City serves classic seafood platters that do not require as stringent a dress code.

In addition, Café O is popular for its sandwiches, pizzas, and other fare.

Stanley

PizzaExpress offers a dreamy view of the sea from its outside terrace on Stanley Main Street, where you'll also find a row of other restaurants. In addition, the Murray House, Stanley Plaza, has a few restaurants serving Spanish, Vietnamese and German food.